December 8, 1995 – Makes his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Perth, scoring 96 at No. 5 before being given out lbw by Khizer Hayat with the ball heading well over the stumps.December 3, 1996 – Is dropped after the second Test against West Indies at Sydney where he makes only 9 and 4. One match earlier he scored 88 against the same opposition in his first match at No. 3.July 24, 1997 – Returns to the Test team with a bang at Headingley, batting at No. 6 and scoring his maiden century with 127. With Matthew Elliott he lifts Australia from 4 for 50 to 9 declared for 501.December 27, 1997 – Scores his first hundred at home, a fine 105 against South Africa at the MCG.December 15, 1998 – Is replaced by Darren Lehmann after making 5 and 10 in the third Test against England at AdelaideJanuary 17, 1999 – Goes nightclubbing after a one-day match against England and early the next morning is photographed with a black eye after being punched outside a Sydney bar. Receives a three-match ban and $5000 suspended fine and admits to a drinking problem.
March 27, 1999 – Reaches a century on his return to the side for the second time with 104 against West Indies in the third match in Barbados. Ponting shares a record fifth-wicket stand for Australia against West Indies of 281 with Steve Waugh, breaking a 44-year-old mark.September 9, 1999 – A boy-on-the-burning-deck innings, Ponting makes 96 against a rampaging Murali and Vaas , the only Australian score above 50, and in the second innings when everybody else fails, makes another half-century. He goes on to hit an unbeaten 105 in the third and final Test at Colombo, his first Test century in the subcontinent and bags the Man of the Series award.November 27, 1999 – After three consecutive ducks, Ponting posts his highest score so far with 197 against Pakistan at the WACA.February 4, 2000 – Ponting injures his ankle when sliding into the boundary fence at the SCG while fielding in a one-day final against Pakistan. The injury forces Ponting out of the tour of New Zealand and a three-match one day series in South Africa.March 22, 2002 – First game as one-day captain after replacing Steve Waugh. Scores 14 as Australia beat South Africa in Johannesburg by 19 runsJune 22, 2002 Marries Rianna Cantor, a 23-year-old law student in Sydney.March 23, 2003 – Leads Australia to World Cup victory over India with a magnificent 140, which includes four fours and eight sixes.February / March, 2001 – Makes 17 runs in five innings in the series against India, raising questions about his play against high-quality spin.August 16, 2001 – Under pressure after a poor run, he responds with 144 at Headingley and his position hasn’t been in danger since.November 23, 2002 – Records hundreds in three consecutive Tests with 154 against England in Adelaide to follow 123 in Brisbane and 150 against Pakistan at Sharjah.
December 28, 2003 – Joins Bradman as the second player to score three double-centuries in a calendar year with 257 against India at the MCG. He reached 242 in the previous match and 206 against West Indies in April, helping him to 1503 runs at 100.2 for 2003. His performances would win him the 2004 Allan Border Medal.March 8, 2004 – Captains Australia for the first time in a Test after replacing Steve Waugh. Reaches 21 and 28 as Australia win by 197 runs at Galle.September 21, 2004 – Breaks his finger fielding in the Champions Trophy semi-final loss to England, ruling him out of the first three Tests of the historic India series and signalling an end to Australia’s dominance over England.January 3, 2005 – Posts first century as captain almost a year after taking over from Steve Waugh and makes it a double with 207 against Pakistan at the SCG. It is his 18th innings and 10th Test as leader.September 12, 2005 – Becomes the first Australian captain since Allan Border in 1986-87 to lose the Ashes with the 2-1 result at The Oval.December 26, 2005 – Hits his 26th Test century , 117 against South Africa and joins Sir Garfield Sobers on the all-time list. “It was a special innings for me – I was pretty proud of the way I played today,” Ponting says.December 30, 2005 – Finishes 2005 with a career-best 1544 runs for the calendar year, including 117 in the second Test against South Africa at the MCG.January 2, 2006 – Due to play 100th Test match.
An innings of grace, poise and immense character from Yousuf Youhana lit up Melbourne on Boxing Day and allowed Pakistan to hit back in style after their Perth debacle. Youhana struck a classy 111, and along with Younis Khan (87) and Salman Butt (70) lifted Pakistan to 6 for 318 at close of play on the first day.After being thoroughly outplayed on a bouncy WACA pitch, Pakistan’s batsmen found the conditions much more to their liking here – there was none of the steepling bounce that characterised that wicket, and Australia’s bowlers couldn’t obtain much pace or seam movement either. Jason Gillespie was easily the outstanding bowler, though. He tested all the batsmen with his pace and outswing – especially with the second new ball – and his two late wickets kept Pakistan in check after the 192-run fourth-wicket stand between Youhana and Younis threatened to take them towards a huge score.Faced with a pitch closer to the kind they are bred on back home, Pakistan’s batsmen showed a refreshing change in attitude. At Perth, most of their batsmen were guilty of being stuck in defensive mode, waiting for the inevitable good delivery to nail them; here, they put the Australians on the defensive with some excellent aggressive cricket. Butt led the way at the start, but the innings which made the day memorable was Youhana’s.Throughout his 54-Test career, Youhana has been accused of milking weak opposition and choking in the face of pressure against tougher teams. There was nothing weak about this Australian attack, and coming into the match, Pakistan were under severe pressure – they had been pummeled at Perth, were written off by fans and critics alike, and then were hit further by the unavailability of Inzamam-ul-Haq. Youhana, standing in as captain, soaked up all that pressure and played an innings of impeccable composure and glittering strokes. His knock came off just 134 balls, and contained 11 fours and four sixes, most of them an exquisite combination of skill and elegance.He came in to bat when Pakistan had lost three wickets for nine runs on either side of the lunch interval, and the innings threatened to unravel quickly after a promising start – Imran Farhat edged one to the slips, Yasir Hameed, in the side to replace Inzamam, was trapped in by Gillespie, and Butt ran himself out with his lackadaisical running (3 for 94).Youhana and Younis then put the house back in order. Both started off circumspectly, keen to see off a testing spell by Gillespie. They did that, and then gradually flourished against the rest of the attack. Youhana was especially severe on Shane Warne, lofting him for three magnificent straight sixes and pulling and cutting whenever Warne erred even fractionally in length: in all Youhana scored 59 of his runs off Warne from 82 balls.
At the other end, Younis performed the sheet-anchor’s role to perfection, secure in defence and reining in his tendency to attack. He was comfortably outscored by Youhana in the first half of the stand, but came into his own after tea, clattering drives down the ground and through cover, and upper-cutting the fast bowlers over the slips.Warne finally got his own back after suffering at Youhana’s hands, when he slid one down the leg side and Adam Gilchrist completed a fine stumping (4 for 286). That sparked off the second collapse of the day as Gillespie, armed with the second new ball, struck twice in two overs – Younis nicked a perfect awaygoing delivery to the keeper, and Shoaib Malik – in the side for Mohammad Khalil – perished to the bounce and movement as well.Earlier, Butt was the star of the morning session, scoring his maiden Test fifty in his third match. He pulled the first ball of the match for a couple, and continued to go for his strokes at every opportunity, slashing hard whenever offered the width. He edged and middled those strokes in equal measure, but either way he was rewarded – the edges flew over the slip cordon, and the middled ones clattered through the covers. He benefited from an early fielding lapse too – Matthew Hayden made a mess of a regulation chance at gully when Butt slashed at the third ball of the day. Butt survived, and it seemed Pakistan’s openers would do a repeat of what Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra had achieved exactly a year ago. They didn’t quite manage the 141 that the Indians added, but it was just the start to prop up a demoralised side. Youhana and Younis capitalised on it, but Gillespie’s late strikes evened a contest which Pakistan dominated for most of the day.
Simon Jones played his first competitive game of cricket today, some ninemonths after his horrific knee injury in the opening Test of the Ashes seriesin Brisbane.Jones made his comeback in Glamorgan`s 2nd XI match against Lancashire2nd XI at Panteg, with the young pace bowler delivering two four over spellsin which he failed to take a wicket, but did force one of the visiting batsmento retire hurt after being hit a painful blow by one of Jones` deliveries.”I felt good throughout,” said Jones afterwards, “and it`s reallynice to be back on the field.”
Of all the international captains currently tramping through world cricket,easily the most engaging is Kenya’s Maurice Odumbe. Put it this way, if youwere planning to throw some steak on the braai and pass a few beers around,then the cricketer to call to lift the company would be Odumbe. Alwaysassuming, of course, that your name is not umpire Dave Orchard.Odumbe’s criticisms of Orchard earned him a two-match ban this week, a banto which the Kenyans responded by inflicting a 70-run defeat on India in oneof the biggest upsets in the modern game.After the Kenyans had been drawn and quartered by India in Bloemfontein lastFriday, Odumbe’s rueful response was that the practically only thing to doin the circumstances was to take his boys out on the town and get them drunkAfter Lance Klusener had taken five successive boundaries off him inKimberley last Sunday, he confessed that what he’d wanted to do at thatmoment was find somewhere to hide.There hasn’t been such frankness from a captain on these shores since KenRutherford described his New Zealand team as a “bunch of social retards” inthe wake of a surprise victory over South Africa at the Wanderers. “And,” headded, “I’m off to join them.”It was Rutherford, of course, who also declared that New Zealand cricket had”corned the turner” after an equally surprising win against Pakistan.Rutherford had his farewell do in Johannesburg this week before takinghimself back off to his native land. Go well, Ruds.To get back to Odumbe, though, what appeals as much as anything else abouthim is that even in the aftermath of humiliation, he’s still aware that onlya fortunate few are privileged to make a living from playing cricket.Compared to a small core within the South African camp who seem determinedto match England in the prima donna stakes, the Kenyans are a breath offresh air.More so now, after Wednesday’s shock result. The problem, however, in thepost- Hansiegate age, is that you’re never quite sure what to make of upsetslike this. If Sachin Tendulkar, the best batsman in the world, struggles for20 balls to make just 3, then is he just having a bad day at the office orare more sinister forces at work.Which is not to suggest that the Indians tanked it, simply that whateverHansie Cronje believes, his activities still cast a dark shadow over thegame. Interestingly, it is understood that members of the InternationalCricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit were around Port Elizabeth onWednesday. The ACU has been a little cagey about this which, in some ways,is surprising. Surely, if the ACU is tasked with policing cricket andguarding against corruption, one of the most effective ways of achievingthis would be to let it be known that you’re around and you’ve got yourears close to the ground.The other fascinating point to emerge after Wednesday’s match – even thoughit has been strenuously denied – is that discussions were apparently heldabout Kenya’s continuing participation in the tournament. In Bloemfonteinlast week only a couple of hundred spectators turned out to watch Indiatrounce Kenya and some people started to wonder whether their presence inthe Standard Bank One-Day Series wasn’t undermining the whole tournament.In the event Kenya stayed on and gave cricket in South Africa what shouldprove to be one of the best nights of the summer. The question, though,still remains: are triangular tournaments fatally flawed if one of the teamsis demonstrably weaker than the other two? The answer in most cases is yes,but Kenya did themselves, and the series, an enormous favour by cashing inon what was a woefully inept Indian effort.The result, almost certainly, will not affect the tournament as a whole.South Africa and India, you can bet on this, will be in the final atKingsmead next Friday. But before then South Africa play Kenya at Newlandson Monday and if Cape Town manages to shrug off Currie Cup fever (or aCurrie Cup hangover, whichever applies after this weekend) then there couldbe a selloutWhich is exactly what this series needs and, let’s not be coy about this,which is exactly what South African cricket needs just at the moment.
Australia batsman Adam Voges has expressed severe doubt about the ability of the experimental pink ball to hold up to 80 overs of battering in the upcoming day-night Adelaide Test, saying the ball had lost its colouring and was “more green than pink” by the end of the 50-over Prime Minister’s XI fixture against New Zealand.The manufacturer, Kookaburra, has gone through countless variations of the pink ball over the past five years in an effort to find a workable ball for day-night Tests, but Voges said the latest edition “didn’t hold up very well at all” to fewer than 50 overs of use at Manuka Oval, which has pitch characteristics not dissimilar to those expected in Adelaide.Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards and his heir apparent David Peever were seen closely observing the balls used in the match after the game. The various doubts raised by numerous players about a host of aspects of the experiment – including visibility, the quality of cricket and the change in conditions from day to night – will only be thrown into sharper focus by Voges’ critique.”There wasn’t much pink left on it by the end of the game,” Voges said. “The one that got hit onto the roof [by Martin Guptill] and didn’t come back was 28 overs old and it looked like it was 68 overs old to be fair. To be honest, it didn’t hold up very well at all tonight.”It looked as though the lacquer had come off and it was turning green basically. There were bits of pink left, but it was more green than pink by the end. I know that it stopped swinging, there was no reverse-swing or anything like that because both sides get chunked up equally, but yeah the older it gets, I can’t see it being any easier to see.”Voges’ previous experience of the pink ball had been in Brisbane and Perth, where the hard pitches and lush green outfields preserved its condition in an adequate fashion, though the ball swung extravagantly at times and made batting difficult. However at Manuka, pronounced early swing for Trent Boult and Tim Southee that left the PM’s XI in early trouble later gave way to featureless passages of cricket devoid of any movement or pace with diminishing visibility.”The two [Sheffield] Shield games I played with it were in Brisbane and Perth and it held up pretty well there. But this is my first experience of lower, slower wickets,” Voges said. “They’re very good new-ball bowlers and the key will be to get through their first spells and then get them back for second and third spells – as we saw with the pink ball tonight, in both innings, get them into their second spell and it can be a different story.”Other Australian players, including Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood, have expressed reservations about the concept, while the former captain Ricky Ponting has said he was “always against” an experiment that tampered with Test cricket’s traditions.Whatever has been said, one thing is now certain – there is no time to address the issues raised by the PM’s XI match before the Adelaide Test is played from November 27.
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor has stated that he will not celebrate if he scores against Arsenal on Sunday, as a mark of respect to his former club.
The African forward has been in exceptional form since joining Spurs on loan from Manchester City at the start of the season, scoring three goals in three straight Tottenham victories.
The Togolese man ruffled Arsenal feathers however back in 2009 when he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the London side’s fans after scoring against Arsene Wenger’s men for City, but has stated the same will not happen on Sunday.
“What happened two years ago was an accident and I do apologise to all the fans of Arsenal,” he stated in a press conference.
“Sometimes the emotions, we cannot control them, we are all human beings. I regret what I have done and I say sorry to everyone but at the end of the day sorry doesn’t change anything. For me, it’s over.
“I’m looking forward to playing against Arsenal again on Sunday. But believe me, if I have a chance to score – trust me, I will score – but as for the celebration, never in my life will I do something like that again.
“It will be a funny game, it’ll be fantastic. I have a chance to play against Arsenal again, the club that gave me the chance to be where I am today. I have a huge respect for the club,” he concluded.
Tottenham will go into the game as favourites following their 4-0 win over Liverpool in their last fixture at White Hart Lane, but Arsenal have improved over their last couple of games after a shaky start.
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Even by their recent standards, January was a particularly eventful month for Liverpool FC. The month began with Roy Hodgson’s ignominious early ousting from the Anfield hotseat, with the Reds’ new American owners appointing club legend Kenny Dalglish in the former Fulham manager’s place. The King’s return to the throne culminated in a return to winning ways, before a staggering transfer deadline day saw the club effectively trade Fernando Torres for Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.
Dalglish’s return to the managerial post he vacated nearly 20 years ago has undoubtedly brought back some much-needed stability and leadership to a side decimated by in-fighting and turmoil over the last 18 months. Sunday’s 1-0 win away at Chelsea saw Liverpool record their fourth successive victory, fuelling optimistic suggestions that the side can make a late push for Champions League qualification.
Although plaudits have been heaped upon the 59-year-old caretaker manager by fans and pundits alike, credit must be given to the man brought in by Dalglish to oversee coaching of the first-team. Former Chelsea man Steve Clarke has been an integral part of the Reds’ recent revival, a sentiment alluded to by Daniel Agger and Jay Spearing.
Speaking to LFC Weekly, Spearing said: “Under him [Clarke] the pace of training has changed.
“He wants us to do things quicker. That’s helped us to play at a better tempo in games.”
Clarke is a respected figure within the game, and is widely credited as being a key figure behind Chelsea’s back-to-back title wins of 2004/05 and 2005/06.
Charlton Athletic assistant manager Alex Dyer, a man who worked with Clarke during the Scotsman’s spell as assistant manager at West Ham United, said that Dalglish’s number two excels at getting “footballers playing to their maximum potential.” This assertion has been vindicated in the performances of some of Liverpool’s players; shaky Slovak Martin Skrtel has begun to show some semblance of the defender he was when he first arrived at Anfield in 2008, and the free-scoring Raul Meireles is finally starting to prove his true worth to the team.
The fact that Liverpool’s rearguard has been breached with greater infrequency during the last month is no coincidence. The side have conceded five goals in their last seven games, and have managed to keep clean sheets in each of their last four outings. Liverpool’s successful tactical reversion to a 3-5-2 system not seen since the late 1990s is thought to be to attributable to Clarke.
Liverpool’s displays of late have also drawn comparisons to the ‘pass and move’ ethic synonymous with the club during their 1970s and 1980s halcyon days (for example, Fernando Torres’ second goal against Wolves at Molineux was preceded by 31 passes). Dyer again attributes to this to the work of Clarke, stating: “Most of the players I know loved his sessions. He likes to play the ball on the ground with quick passing and play at a high tempo.”
Dealing with Fernando Torres’ late January transfer request would surely have provided Kenny Dalglish with his biggest headache this January. Dalglish admirably dealt with the mess created by the former Rojiblanco, but whether or not Carroll and Suarez manage to fill the Spaniard’s illustrious shoes remains to be seen. Regardless of their eventual impact, the signing of Steve Clarke may prove to be the most important signing made by Kenny Dalglish in the January window.
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Chelsea have confirmed that Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti will be leaving the club at the end of the month after their contracts expire. With Deco also expecting to leave this summer there will be a few spots opening up in the Blues’ midfield, which has led to a media frenzy as many are speculating on who should Carlo Ancelotti sign to fill the shoes of the above.
Here are five players that Ancelotti should consider as replacements:
Bastian Schweinsteiger: the Bayern Munich midfielder has been linked with Chelsea in light of the recent exodus and many believe the 25-year-old could be a perfect replacement for fellow German Ballack and could inject some much needed youth into the Stamford Bridge outfit’s midfield.
The Germany vice-captain has enjoyed a good season with his club, who like the Blues won a league and cup double. Also, just like Chelsea lost to Inter Milan in the Champions League. Schweinsteiger is also a very versatile player and can be implemented anywhere in the midfield.
The transfer fee mooted is £25million, which doesn’t usually get you a whole lot these days and it could be a great deal for a player who has many years ahead of him.
Yaya Toure: I’ve already written an article on the benefits of the Ivorian as adding a defensive midfielder to the team would allow Ancelotti to play Michael Essien further up the pitch. Essien is probably Chelsea’s best player and I feel as though his talents are wasted as a deep lying midfielder, even though he plays the role so well (remember when he had Steven Gerrard in his pocket at Anfield in the Champions League in the 2008/09 season?).
Toure’s agent claims that the Ivory Coast star has already signed an agreement with a Premier League club, with many believing it is one of Chelsea, Manchester City or Arsenal.
Rafael van der Vaart: the 27-year-old Dutchman has had a mixed time at the Santiago Bernabeu and is expected to be one of the casualties as new Real Madrid manager is set to shake things up.
The former Hamburg midfielder could be the sort of playmaker that Chelsea are crying out for and many believe he could be bought for as little as £10million. He is also fairly versatile and is a lot better passer of the ball than Joe Cole. If he can have a similar impact as two fellow Netherlands stars who have left Los Blancos (Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben) then he would be a fantastic bargain for any club.
James Milner: considering UEFA’s new quota which states that a 25-man squad must contain at least eight home-grown players the Aston Villa midfielder is set to become hot property this summer. As Chelsea are set to lose and Englishman in Joe Cole it would make sense to replace him with another and Milner is the best available.
The 24-year-old scored a dozen goals for the Villains last season and won the PFA Young Player’s award. The only stumbling block is the player’s price tag which could be in excess of £30million…perhaps more if he impresses in South Africa.
Diego: although the mercurial Brazilian has previously insisted that he does not wish to give up on Juventus after just one season at the club his manager Gigi del Neri is unlikely to use the player in his preferred system.
So, according to Juve’s general manager Beppe Marotta the club will listen to potential transfer offers for the 25-year-old.
Marotta told Tuttosport: “There are offers for Diego,”
“Del Neri’s tactical requirements have the priority and I don’t think the Brazilian fits into the 4-4-2.”
“Faced with an impressive offer, I believe we could sell him.”
Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea were all previously linked with the player before he moved from Werder Bremen to Turin in 2009 and may renew their interest in the player. The playmaker could operate at the tip of the diamond if Ancelotti wished to revert to his preferred system and he is likely to be a cheaper option than £50million rated Kaka.
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Of course there are many other alternatives and fans will speculate and debate over who they want to join during the summer. Some may even argue that it is time for the likes of Gael Kakuta and Nemanja Matic should make the step up and be given more chances in Ancelotti’s first team.
Who would the Chelsea fans like to see replace Ballack, Cole and Belletti?
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The phrase, “must get off to a good start,” is as horribly tedious as it is immortal. Every season it seems to get dusted off as we evaluate a new manager’s chances, as if a mediocre or uninspiring start would be some form of viable alternative. Every time a manager walks into a new club, they’ve got to hit the ground running and start winning games. For Brendan Rodgers though, the phrase might hold a bit more prominence.
Liverpool enter the new season under a real paradox of expectation. The appointment of Brendan Rodgers is one that is supposed to exude longevity. The Ulsterman is a of the new breed of young manager and he brings with him a blueprint for the future alongside his roadmap for technical excellence. Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, seem to be doing everything in their power to emphasize this- it is said that Champions League football is not a direct necessity for next term.
But as much as FSG want to, quite rightly, quell expectation, there is a bubbling undercurrent of impatience. There is only so long that a club like Liverpool can stay in regression for, and since the dying moments of the Rafa Benitez era, the club has slipped further and further away from the summit of English football.
Whilst you could hardly describe the club as undergoing freefall, expectations have been dealt a ruthless reality check in recent years. Since Benitez guided his side to Premier League runners-up during the 2008-09 season, the club have kicked on my moving backwards. Finishes of 7th. 6th then 8th have succeeded since and Benitez, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish have all been and gone during the same time frame.
But it’s not been the decline caused by drastic implosion or lack of investment, which is what makes it all the more frustrating. They’ve not invested petromillions, but Benitez was always backed, Hodgson was allowed to bring in his own men (enter, Paul Konchesky) and the new regime gave Dalglish as much help as they possibly could. Of course, the aforementioned change in ownership played it’s part. But after a pretty mediocre three years, the notion of being told to wait a little longer isn’t the most appealing of prospects.
Although Brendan Rodgers hasn’t been brought in for a slap dash season. He’s been brought in for the long haul, and supporters generally seem to have brought into him. He plays the brand of football that is hoped will drag Liverpool kicking and screaming back into the forefront of the modern game and he’s already made the right noises in and around the club. Rodgers speaks with drive and authority and he has a far more accessible feel than Kenny Dalglish. King Kenny will always be King Kenny, but his PR skills certainly didn’t help proceedings last term. Rodgers has brought genuine optimism back to Anfield.
Yet all the pre season posturing and column inches of adulation mean nothing when the season kicks off. Rodgers will be given plenty of time by both the fans and the board but ultimately, he has to start winning football matches.
When people start talking about embarking on a project at a football club, expectations and aims seem to fluctuate as and when the season goes on. Supporters understand that to get to the finished article, they have to endure the building process and results can often be unpredictable and sometimes volatile.
But the improvement needs to be there to see and progress will have to be made. Memories don’t last long in football and time is a commodity that few are afforded. Rodgers needs to get off the ground quickly, specifically by flying out the blocks in the Premier League. The fixture computer, however, hasn’t been particularly kind.
Their opening five fixtures are potentially as savage as they can get, or at least their three home games are anyway. Rodgers takes his Liverpool side to the Hawthorns on the opening day, where the somewhat unknown quantity of Steve Clarke’s West Brom await. And this represents the perfect acid test for supporters’ patience.
The aim will of course be, to beat West Brom. But more importantly, Liverpool simply cannot loose. Because in their next three home games, they play host to Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United respectively. Throw in a tricky away trip to Sunderland in between and you can understand why the Liverpool management are asking for patience.
But whilst fans will do everything they can to heed to their demands, Rodgers has to combine building his project for the future with winning over a set of fans that intrinsically behold high expectations.
He can have all the time in the world, but if Liverpool lose to City and Arsenal at home, he will be under huge pressure to get a result against Martin O’Neill’s side at the Stadium of Light. Why? Losing three on the bounce would set up an encounter with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to try and stop the rot.
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You can see why the stakes are high- the Anfield crowd would be loathe to see their fiercest rivals create a stink around the place come mid-September. But that’s exactly what it would create. Defeat would hurt and suddenly the rebuilding process will have to be undertaken without the probation period of time and patience.
Supporters should never go into a new season with pessimism and Liverpool fans will be loathe to see observers putting Rodgers under pressure before he’s even started. He could of course come out and stuff the opposition and any remaining doubters by putting the League Champions to the sword on the 26th. But however he does it, Rodgers needs to get his project winning games and soon. We’ll soon see just how patient Liverpool fans are.
How do you feel about Brendan Rodgers’ difficult set of opening fixtures? Do you fancy Liverpool at home or do you sense danger around the corner? Let me know you see it on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat us your views.
Stoke City’s first jaunt in the group stages of the Europa League sees a tough task for Tony Pulis’ men if they are to make it through to the knock-out stages of the competition. Elsewhere the Irish giant killers Shamrock Rovers have got themselves a plump draw with Tottenham Hotspur in their group, which promises to be quite an occasion for the Rovers’ fans.
The Europa League fixtures for the English clubs below:
Birmingham City
Sept 15: Braga (H)
Sept 29: Maribor (A)
Oct 20: Club Brugge (A)
Nov 3: Club Brugge (H)
Nov 30: Braga (A)
Dec 15: Maribor (H)
Fulham
Sept 15: Twente (H)
Sept 29: Odense BK (A)
Oct 20: Wisla Krakow (A)
Nov 3: Wisla Krakow (H)
Dec 1: Twente (A)
Dec 14: Odense BK (H)
Stoke City
Sept 15: Dynamo Kiev (A)
Sept 29: Besiktas (H)
Oct 20: Maccabi Tel Aviv (H)
Nov 3: Maccabi Tel Aviv (A)
Dec 1: Dynamo Kiev (H)
Dec 14: Besiktas (A)
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